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Flowers, vegetables, ornamental and fruit trees love fertile land, but it is not always present on the site. Sandy or heavy clay soils create many problems for summer residents. The soil is annually fertilized with manure, humus, mineral fertilizers, without obtaining the desired result. Sapropel as a fertilizer will help improve the composition of the soil and increase yields, but for this you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for its use.
What is "sapropel"
Sapropel - perennial deposits from the bottom of stagnant freshwater reservoirs. Translated from Greek, it is "rotting mud." It is formed from decaying aquatic plants, living organisms, plankton, soil and mineral particles. This mixture is considered the best soil fertilizer. It is environmentally friendly, safe, and also contains a huge amount of organic matter. The most prized sapropel is mined at a depth of 2 to 8 m. It accumulates exclusively in stagnant waters. And in lakes rich in vegetation and crayfish, the highest quality sapropel is formed. There are no analogues of this substance.
What sapropel looks like
Sapropel (pictured) is a gray, almost black powder that looks like ash. It is sold in the form of tablets, granules, emulsion or paste.
The product in all forms of release retains its color and useful properties
Raw lumps of a substance extracted from the bottom of stagnant reservoirs are not fertilizers, it is a starting substance that becomes fertilizer only after processing: drying, freezing, granulating, evaporating, grinding.
In agriculture, granular and powdery sapropel is used for large areas.
In summer cottages, liquid and pasty fertilizers are often used to restore poor soils.
Most likely, this mixture was mined in a marsh environment and is not a sapropel. This substance is found in the mud at the bottom of the swamps.
On sale, the substrate has 3 types of markings:
- A - universal, suitable for all types of soil;
- B - used for soil with high acidity;
- B - used for slightly alkaline and neutral soil.
How sapropel differs from silt
Many people think that silt and sapropel are one and the same, but this is a delusion. Silt is poor in composition, there are few organic substances in it (no more than 20%), and in sapropel their content reaches 97%.
Differences in color, consistency and appearance are observed. Sapropel - dark, almost black, odorless, consistency like thick sour cream, at low temperatures or air drying, hardens and turns into stone.
The color of the silt, depending on the place of extraction, varies from olive to pinkish brown. It has a musty smell and a plasticine consistency. When dried and frozen, it turns into powder.
Sludge is formed in running waters for several years, thanks to debris and soil falling from the banks, and sapropel is a product of decomposition of the flora and fauna of the reservoir.
Characteristics and composition of sapropel
The substance enriches the soil, creates conditions for the normal growth and development of plants. After applying it to the soil, it will remain fertile for the next 3-4 years.
The natural fertilizer contains amino acids, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, nitrogen, manganese, vitamins and humic acids that disinfect the soil.
According to their research, substances extracted from different bodies of water are different in composition. This is due to the characteristics of the environment, which directly affects the chemical formula of the product.
Where is sapropel used
Agronomists recommend using sapropel in agricultural land, private gardens and vegetable gardens, for flower beds, flower beds and indoor plants. It is a safe, environmentally friendly substrate. When using it, roots are preserved longer, the soil is enriched, fruit and ornamental plants develop better.
The benefits of natural fertilizer for the soil:
- restores depleted land;
- retains moisture, allowing you to reduce watering;
- loosens heavy clay and loamy soil;
- neutralizes the effects of exposure to nitrates and fungal diseases;
- retains fertility for several years.
It is allowed to apply fertilizer to the soil both in autumn and spring.
Benefits for plants:
- increases productivity;
- accelerates vegetation and stimulates the development of the root system;
- improves the survival rate of seedlings and the quality of the fruit;
- lengthens the flowering process.
Where and how sapropel is mined
Sapropel mining begins in spring, while there is little water in the reservoir. To do this, use a suction dredger with openers, which scoop up to 30 m³ at a time.
The large-scale process of extracting natural fertilizers is very laborious, but profitable.
The resulting mixture is frozen and dried thoroughly until it turns into a powdery substance. Then they are crushed, pressed into tablets (granules) or an emulsion is made.
How to get sapropel with your own hands
The manual method of sapropel extraction is much simpler. This will require a pitchfork or shovel, large capacity and transport for transportation. Wading and gloves will not be superfluous.
For the preparation of fertilizer, mid-August - early September is suitable, when the water level is falling.
It is advisable to choose reservoirs located away from roads and industrial facilities
The extracted mixture must be ventilated, dried and kept in the cold. Not properly processed live sapropel will rot and lose its beneficial properties. To speed up the process of draining the liquid from the fertilizer being extracted, it is advised to use a container with holes in the bottom. To improve the quality of drying, preliminary sifting of organic matter through a sieve will help.
How to use sapropel as fertilizer
The use of sapropel is most effective on sandy, sandy loam and acidic soils. It must be used strictly according to the instructions: put directly into the hole, and then dig up or pre-prepare the soil mixture from it.
The use of sapropel as a fertilizer improves the structure of the soil, increases the percentage of humus in it and activates soil processes.
For seedlings
A substrate suitable for seedlings is prepared from natural fertilizer and soil in a ratio of 1: 3.It stimulates the development of the root system and allows simultaneous shoots to be obtained. This is a versatile mixture, but to improve performance, it is better to prepare individually for each crop in accordance with the instructions.
Seeds are sown in a bed dug up and fertilized with sapropel at the rate of 3 liters of a substance diluted with water per 1 m². This will accelerate the germination of crops and increase yields.
When planting vegetable crops
The introduction of the substrate into the beds for planting vegetables allows you to count on an increased yield of vegetables. Pre-prepared fertilizer is applied by 1 handful directly into the planting holes. For nightshade crops, sapropel, sand and earth are mixed in proportions of 1: 2: 7, for planting cucumbers and zucchini, the same components are combined in proportions of 3: 4: 6, for cabbage and greens, the earth is prepared at the rate of 3: 3: 2.
According to the fertilizer reviews, the use of sapropel on potato plantations can increase its yield by 1.5 times. Depending on the quality of the soil, before planting the tubers, 3 to 6 kg of organic matter are introduced per 1 m².
For fruit and berry crops
Sapropel is also irreplaceable in the garden. Fertilizing when planting fruit and berry crops promotes better rooting of seedlings, stimulates vegetation and the appearance of ovaries. The substance is introduced into the planting pits (the ratio of sapropel and earth is 3: 5).
As a result of enrichment of planting pits with fertilizer in the first year, fruit and berry crops will delight with a bountiful harvest
Adult bushes need to mulch the trunks with a mixture of manure and sapropel in a 1: 2 ratio. The composition is prepared in advance. Then it is left to re-cook for four months. Top dressing with ready-made fertilizer is carried out three times per season.
For flowers and ornamental shrubs
Biologists and gardeners recommend using sapropel for flower beds and ornamental trees. It strengthens the roots, prevents yellowing of foliage, stimulates budding and flowering.
For feeding flowers, fertilizer in liquid form, diluted with water, is suitable. The solution is watered 1-3 times per season. This mixture can be used to treat a flower garden in early autumn. The composition disinfects the soil, destroys fungal diseases, mold, bacteria and nitrates. In the spring, the procedure is repeated. Such preventive measures will have a beneficial effect on plants, the stems will get stronger, they will bloom for a long time, and the inflorescences will be larger and brighter.
Ornamental shrubs and trees should be mulched with sapropel mixed with soil in a ratio of 1: 4 twice a year. Then the plant is watered and the soil is loosened.
For compost
When preparing compost for a summer cottage, mix sapropel with manure or slurry in a 1: 1 ratio and use it in the usual way.
Freshly harvested fertilizer is composted for 10-12 months before use, and frozen - 4 months. To compensate for the lack of phosphorus, 100 g of superphosphate is added to the finished compost.
For soil enrichment
In order to enrich the soil with nutrients, the sapropel is finely crumbled by hand and evenly distributed around the entire perimeter of the site, after which the earth is dug up. You can use liquid fertilizer. Agronomists claim that the result of the procedure is comparable only to a complete replacement of the soil. It becomes crumbly, light and fertile.
For indoor plants and flowers
The flowering of domestic plants fed with sapropel is longer
For indoor crops, the substrate is mixed with soil in a ratio of 1: 4. The fertilizer improves the decorative properties of plants, increases the duration of flowering and resistance to diseases. The mixture is recommended to be used as a top dressing for weak specimens, as well as when planting or transplanting.
Other fields of application of sapropel
The use of sapropel is not limited to agriculture, it is actively used in other areas of activity.
Eight areas where the natural ingredient has found application:
- Industry - used as a raw material for the manufacture of fuel.
- Chemical industry - in the process of its processing, paraffin and ammonia are obtained, as additional raw materials are used in the production of rubber footwear.
- Construction - it is used as an absorbent when drilling soil.
- Agronomy - used to restore soil after drilling or mining operations, as well as landfill sites.
- Medicine - used for physiotherapy purposes.
- Alternative medicine - found application in mud therapy. Masks and baths with the addition of sapropel can get rid of cellulite, premature wrinkles, seborrhea, baldness.
- Cosmetology - solves many problems with the skin of the body and face.
- Livestock - used as a dietary supplement in livestock feed.
Application in medicine
In medicine, sapropel is prescribed as a therapeutic mud for applications, masks and baths.
Components contained in sapropel nourish the skin and improve metabolism
Organic mass has a positive effect on immunity, strengthens capillaries, accelerates blood flow and metabolism, and breaks down cholesterol plaques. It improves the condition of fractures, arthritis, arthrosis, neuralgia, pneumonia, cystitis, prostatitis, psoriasis, eczema, uterine erosion.
Sapropel has antibacterial properties and is safe for allergy sufferers.
How sapropel is used in animal husbandry
Sapropel is needed not only for humans, it is also useful for livestock. It contains many vitamins, macro- and microelements necessary for animals. It is added to feed for cattle, birds, pigs. As a result of using the supplement, there is an increase in daily weight gain, an increase in the survival rate of young animals, milk yield in cows increases and the fat content of milk increases.
Due to the better absorption of calcium, the skeleton of animals is also strengthened.
Conclusion
Agronomists, gardeners and biologists recommend using sapropel as a fertilizer for everyone on their plots. This ecological natural remedy is essential for the enrichment and restoration of depleted soil. It contains a large amount of nutrients and has a positive effect on all types of plants and fruit crops.
